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(No Model.)

B. W. YOUNG.

SHOW CARD SIGN.

Patented Sept. 14, 1886.

Jim en 07. filer (w Yblfllj I :5 emu Marcher UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT XV. YOUNG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES A. FLEMING, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOW-CARD SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,193, dated September 14, 1886.

Application filed December 14, 1885. Serial No. 186,594. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. YOUNG, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Show-Gard Signs, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front or face view of said sign; and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken upon the line as m, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the different figures.

As is well known, it is customary in drygoods and other stores to place card-board signs in conspicuous places in windows and elsewhere for the purpose of advertising goods, and particularly to inform customers of the prices of various articles displayed for sale. As the cards when used in the ordinary way soon become soiled, and as it is frequently necessary to change the prices or other matter thereon, new cards are constantly required, which in many businesses forms an item of very 2 5 large expense, as it necessitates not only the destruction of large quantities of cards, but the rewriting of the entire sign in each instance. Io obviate this expense, and to provide ashow-card which may present the appearance of that ordinarily in use,while at the same time it may be changed wholly or in part ata nominal expense, is the object of my invention, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims. In the drawings, A represents a frame, 0 any suitable material,within which is secured in the usual way a glass, B. Behind the glass B,I place a sheet of card-board or other equivalent or suitable material, C, Fig. 2, of any color desired to contrast or harmonize with the color of the letters used upon the glass, as hereinafter stated. The card-board is preferably separated from the glass and. retained at a fixed distance therefrom by means of slats a a, Fig. 2, while the whole is retained in place by means of the usual backing, d, Fig. 2, attached to the frame by means of brads d d, or in any well-known manner; or the same may be hinged, if desired, to permit the ready insertion of new or different-colored cards. After thus framing the glass and card-board the sign is written upon the glass with a material-such as asphaltuln varnishwhieh is readily soluble in naphtha, turpentine, alcohol,'or other solvent which will dry quickly, and will present a good appearance when finished; and whenever it becomes necessary to change the sign in whole or in part, or to change the prices, if any are shown thereon, the lettering may be at once erased by means of a sponge wet with the solvent, and new words or characters placed thereon without destroying the card.

The appearance of the signs may be changed by placing a card of a different color behind the glass, or white or colored cloth or crystallized tin may be employed instead.

A white card may be used with black or colored letters, or whiteletters may be employed with a black or colored card or material.

When white or very light cards are used, I prefer to place them away from the glass, as shown, in which case the shadow from the letter is thrown upon the card, thus producing an ornamental and pleasing effect.

It is often necessary to change only a single figure or letter in a sign, in which casemyinr proved arrangement may save the cost, as stated, of reproducing the entire sign.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A show-card sign consisting of a frame, a glass therein upon which the letters are written in a solvent material, and an independent removable background over which said letters may be distinctly seen, substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. In a show-card sign, the combination of the frame A, glass B, having the sign written thereon in a solvent material, and the independent removable background O, placed in the .rear of and separated from said glass, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

, ROBT. XV. YOUNG.

\Vitnesses:

J. B. '1. LA ROCHELLE, ANNA MoRRIssEY. 

